XPONENTIAL 2025 set to begin in Houston next week

GPS World staff will be attending XPONENTIAL 2025, taking place May 19–22 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. The event is co-hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Messe Düsseldorf North America (MDNA). Organizers expect participation from thousands of professionals representing defense, commercial and public sectors, amid ongoing changes in federal investment and policy related to autonomous technologies.

Keynote Speakers and Programming

The conference will feature keynote addresses from leaders in government, industry and academia.

Speakers include:

• Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
• Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
• Sue Gordon, former principal deputy director of National Intelligence
• Matt Ocko, co-founder of DCVC
• Jim VandeHei, co-founder and CEO of Axios
• Maj. Gen. Michelle Link, commanding general of the 75th Innovation Command, U.S. Army Reserve
• Ryan Tseng, CEO and co-founder of Shield AI. 

These speakers are expected to address topics ranging from national security to advancements in logistics and the deployment of autonomous systems worldwide.

Educational Sessions and Industry Trends

XPONENTIAL 2025 will offer more than 150 sessions led by more than 400 experts, covering topics such as infrastructure readiness, advanced research and development, artificial intelligence integration, cybersecurity, and regulatory trends. The educational program is designed to address the rapid growth and evolving policy landscape in robotics and autonomous systems.

Defense-Focused Programming

The event includes AUVSI Defense, a dedicated track examining the integration of uncrewed and autonomous technologies in military and national security applications. Scheduled sessions include the U.S.-Taiwan Autonomous Systems Cooperation Forum, a SOCOM Townhall on special operations and a panel on defense technology trends observed on the Ukraine battlefield.

Exhibition Hall

Attendees will have opportunities for hands-on demonstrations with equipment such as drones, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), uncrewed vehicles and robotic platforms. XPONENTIAL 2025 is positioned as a major annual gathering for stakeholders in the uncrewed systems industry, offering a platform for collaboration, education and technology demonstration.